I’m making a family cookbook!  I’m retired now folks.  I have tons of time on my hands and honestly, I can’t stay in my chair knitting ALL the time.  My daughter, Lindy, has often told me to write my recipes down for her.   My new daughters have also mentioned a recipe or two that they would like to learn to make.   So, I thought I’d make a cookbook.

I thought I would share one of my family’s favorite recipes and hopefully get some constructive criticism.

I was a fortunate kid in the fact that my mother made a home cooked meal every night.  Almost every night, we did eat out occasionally.   I usually helped my mom cook.  I was responsible for the salad.  Yes. We had a salad with every meal.  A meat, a veggie, a carb, and a salad/fruit.

I remember when I moved out and had my first box of Hamburger Helper.  I thought it was terrible!  It tasted like cardboard to me.  I was not used to processed food.  I learned to like it.  Hamburger Helper is great on some nights.

I enjoy cooking for my family.  My daughter didn’t seem interested in learning much and I enjoyed cooking, so my daughter doesn’t know how to cook much.  She’s watched me and helped me cut up ingredients and did a bit of stirring for me, but other than that, she doesn’t know much else.   So my cookbook is directed at her and teaching her how to cook.

My mother follows directions rigidly.  (Other than when a recipe calls for soy sauce.  My mom is like an alcoholic with the soy sauce and requires direct observation.)  I follow directions more as a guideline and/or suggestions.  I eyeball almost everything.  Rarely do I measure anything out.  While creating my cookbook, I’ve been trying my best to pay attention to ingredient portions.

Let me know what you think about the recipe.  If you make this (which I highly recommend), please tell me what you think.  I love honesty.     Let me know if my “Notes” helped.   I’m working on cooking up all the meals and taking pictures for the girls.    My daughters are helping some too!  Lauren made the Chicken Salad the other night and took pictures for me for the cookbook.

I’m collecting recipes from all my family to add to the cookbook.  We all get to participate.  It will be a fun project and will make lots of memories.  I think it’s a great idea.

Any tips to add to my cookbook?  Has your family done anything like this?    I think I’ll add some pictures of all of us, old and new, with the recipes.  That will be fun too.